Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Friday, October 25

The 12th annual Alaska Sacred Harp Singing Convention was held on Friday and Saturday before the fourth Sunday in October. Kari Lundgren introduced P. Dan Brittain of Harrison, Arkansas, as the singing school teacher. Dan began the singing school with a brief history of the tradition, with the remaining first hour addressing accidentals printed in the music and raised sixths. The second hour focused on arm movements while beating time, and the tempi that each of the time signatures (modes of time) indicate. For the final period, the class sang through a collection of his compositions, explaining why he titled each as he did, what the Missouri Harmony-style time signatures meant, where the words came from, and how he word-painted in matching text to music.

Saturday, October 26

The class was called to order by Campbell Longworth leading 171. Charley Basham offered the opening prayer. The Convention held a business meeting and following officers were appointed to serve: Chairman—Kari Lundgren; Treasurer—Sara Beaber-Fujioka; Secretaries—Julia Smith and Bob Hume; Arranging Committee—Maria D’Agostino; Chaplain—Charley Basham; Resolutions Committee—Robert Sullivan and Lynn Basham; Memorial Committee—Campbell Longworth. The business meeting session was closed.

Leaders: Kari Lundgren 36b, 344; Campbell Longworth 299, 86; Wing Mui 300, 222; Robert Sullivan 159, 49b; Hope Aldrighette and Kate Fine 479, 47b; Dan Brittain 116, 458; Charley Basham 112, 180; Chris Chong 461.

RECESS

Lynn Basham called the class to order leading 173. Leaders: Kate Fine 400, 460; Joe Linden 126, 155; Karen Willard and Alexa Shultz 310, 282; Bob Hume 472, 122; Brenda Powers 49t; Lynn Basham 501, 288; Sara Beaber-Fujioka and Alexandra Fujioka 82t, 474; Tom Crane 455, 277; Kari Lundgren 81t.

RECESS

Bob Hume called the class to order leading 40. Leaders: Mary Barrett 24b; Joe Warner, Jeanette Warner, and Elizabeth Warner 388, 268.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Campbell Longworth. He read the following list of names of the sick and shut-ins before leading 68b in their honor: Dorothy Robinson, Jennifer Jones, Don Bowen, Jim Baldridge, Roy Erskine, and Christine Bowers Newhill.

Campbell Longworth read the following list of names of the deceased before leading 457 in their memory: Concetta Branson—Oregon; Aubrey Barfield—Florida; Janet McCoy—Illinois; Steve Warren—Alaska; Gerri McDonald—Texas; Tom Landye—Oregon; Ottis Sides—Alabama; Charlene Wallace—Georgia. Charley Basham offered a prayer.

Maria D’Agostino led 196 as the last song of the session. Charley Basham offered a blessing before the meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was called to order by Tom Crane leading 34b. Leaders: Sylvia Friske 146, 99; Kari Lundgren 473, 481; Robert Sullivan 276, 66; Wing Mui 42, 209; Joe Linden 168, 178; Julia Smith 63, 107; Karen Willard 81b, 200; Hope Aldrighette and Kari Lundgren 354b, 117; Dan Brittain 304, 175; Robert Sullivan, Lynn Basham, Charley Basham, and Campbell Longworth 198; Alexa Shultz and Wing Mui 45t; Bob Hume 39t, 38b.

RECESS

Sara Beaber-Fujioka and Alexandra Fujioka called the class to order by leading 157. Leaders: Kate Fine 480, 532; Campbell Longworth 218, 228; Mary Barrett 148; Bob Hume, Joe Linden, Chris Chong, Brenda Powers, and Hope Aldrighette 84; Tom Crane 162, 163b; Charley Basham 318, 510; Lynn Basham 540, 52t; Mary Barrett, Sylvia Friske, Julia Smith, Tom Crane, Joel Warne, Alexa Schultz, Sara Beaber-Fujioka, Alexandra Fujioka, and Mari Francis Fujioka 236; Robert Sullivan 217, 216; Wing Mui 442; Dan Brittain 399b; Karen Willard 400; Kate Fine 271t. Committee members presented their reports.

Kari Lundgren led 122 as the closing song, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Kari Lundgren; Secretaries—Julia Smith and Bob Hume